Description
A quick and easy creamy chicken pesto pasta dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a rich pesto cream sauce come together for a flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) penne pasta
- 2 chicken breasts, cubed
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (60g) basil pesto
- 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
- 1/2 tsp (2.5g) salt
- 1/4 tsp (1g) black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden and cooked through.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Reduce heat to low, stir in heavy cream and pesto. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese. Toss until well coated.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use store-bought or homemade pesto.
- Add cherry tomatoes or spinach for extra freshness.
- Substitute chicken with shrimp or mushrooms for a variation.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: creamy chicken pesto pasta, easy pasta recipe, pesto chicken dinner